The Holy Books Of Hinduism - Boldsky.com »The Holy Books Of Hinduism The Holy Books Of Hinduism Published: Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 22:30 [IST] Subscribe to Boldsky Hinduism is not really a religion. It is more like a way of life. Hinduism is neither monotheistic nor restricted to one religious scripture. That is why there are many holy books in Hinduism. Unlike Christianity or Islam, it is a not a religion that is governed by the book. The Holy books in Hinduism are there only for guidance. The religious scriptures are not followed word to word. However, the holy books in Hinduism are the basis on which we have evolved our culture and way of living. The following are the most sacred holy books in Hinduism. Vedas The Vedas are the oldest religious scriptures available to us. There are four vedas namely Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda. Vedic literature was composed by the knowledgeable 'pandits' or Brahmins of that era. Puranas The Puranas are holy books of Hinduism that date back to Gupta Empire in ancient India.

However, the Puranas are supposed to be complied by Muni Vyasa. These texts are glorious tales of the Hindu trinity- Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar (Shiva). Unpanishads The Upanishads are also called as Vedantas or the end of the Vedas. They are a wide range of philosophical texts that are written as epilogues to the vedas. The 200 or more Upanishads tell us how to attain Nirvana and the ultimate truth hidden in the Universe. Ramayana Technically, the Ramayana is a Hindu epic, not really a scripture. But due to centuries of re-telling, the Ramayana has acquired a demi-religious status. Moreover Lord Rama is an avatar of Vishnu and Ramayana the glorious story Ram's journey in the mortal world. Mahabharata Just like the Ramayana, Mahabharata is also a Hindu epic. But the ancient epics had a lot of divine intervention of Lord Krishna (also an avatar of Vishnu) who plays a key role in this story. The Mahabharata is also the epic battle during which the Bhagwad Gita was inscribed.

Bhagwad Gita For many Hindus, whatever is written in the Bhagwad Gita is an eternal truth. It comprises of the advice and teaching that Krishna gave to his friend Arjun just before the battle of Kurukshetra in Mahabharata. The Gita is kept in every Hindu household and has shlokas that tell you how to live your life fruitfully. Devi Mahatmya Hinduism is considered a pagan religion because it worships God in the female form. The Devi in Hinduism is single entity who was created with cumulative power of the Gods. That is why Devi who is known by different names like Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati and so on is the most powerful divine being. The Devi Mahatmya sings the glories of Devi Durga and her victory over Mahishasura. It is usually sung as verses on Mahalaya, the first day of the Navratri. These are the holy books of Hinduism that govern the tenets of life and religion.

Hinduism holy book | Important Books and Writings of hinduism Mahabharata - defining mahabharata - the foremost epic of hinduism Vedas - words of god veda not composed by Humans dictated by god Love this website- Donate for a cause... for welfare of mankind! Hinduism holy book - Important books and writings of hinduism Sacred text of hinduism - Some important Books and Writings on hinduism Hinduism does not possess a single holy book like Bible in Christianity and Quran in Islamic Dharma. Hinduism consists of several holy books... prime of which are the sacred Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana. All depends upon the journey of life... if one has a spiritual inclination... the foremost of all holy books of Hinduism is Bhagavad Gita. The sacred Bhagavad Gita is part of Mahabharata... a holy epic of Hinduism! The doctrine of Bhagavad Gita is a sure shot method for reaching God Almighty. Assimilating the wisdom contained in the holy book Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism human beings finally gained enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and salvation (moksha).

The followers of rituals... the commoners unable to fathom the depth of wisdom contained in Bhagavad Gita ritually follow the teachings of epic Ramayana... another holy book of Hinduism! For living the physical manifest life of 70 to 80 years in a meaningful manner... the teachings contained in the holy book of Ramayana suffice. The physical manifest life... the earthly sojourn of 70 to 80 years can be best lived as maryada Purushottam Rama... the epitome of physical manifest life! As per Hinduism no human being can go beyond the stage of maryada Purushottam Rama as a physical manifest self. Reaching the stage of King Rama is following all traditions of Hinduism religion ceremoniously. Those who desire knowing the inner self... those who desire unveiling the essence of life... the cosmic truth of life... the mystery behind our true inner self... our soul atman... the spirit within... then learning the core truths contained in Bhagavad Gita is necessitated. Unless one assimilates the teachings of sacred Bhagavad Gita... one can never reach God in one's lifetime!

Apart from the holy book Bhagavad Gita, epic Mahabharata and epic Ramayana Hinduism consist of several other holy books namely... Vedas... the first spoken words of God almighty... invoked by Sages and Saints of their era! Vedas form the first holy books of Hinduism... direct revelations from God Almighty. Amongst paraphernalia of Vedas... the four primary Vedas are Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda! These four Vedas form the core of the first holy books of Hinduism... messages of God directly revealed to mankind. During the earlier years the wisdom of Vedas percolated through the word of mouth... hence the name Vedas (spoken from the mouth)! The gist of Vedas... the teachings of Vedas though summarized verbally for many millennia... was finally reduced to the written form around second BC when Lipi (the written script) evolved! The Vedas are voluminous documents emphasizing more on rituals than jnana (pure wisdom). Based on Vedas Hindus conducted their prayers and sacrifices. Along the Vedas came Upanishads... independent treatises by various Saints and sages of their era.

Upanishads form the core of wisdom... the gist of which is also contained in the sacred Bhagavad Gita. There are above 200 Upanishads (the holy books of Hinduism) amongst which Katha Upanishad, Kena Upanishad and Isa Upanishad are primary Upanishads. Every single Upanishad (a holy book of Hinduism)... an independent treatise deals with separate subject. No two Upanishads deals with the same subject similar as no human beings think similar! Upanishads are logical arguments on various aspects of jnana wisdom conducted to their rationalistic end! The importance of Upanishads can be gauged from the fact that Brihadaranakya Upanishad compiled and composed by Sage Jnanavalakya is the most voluminous amongst all... the reason why it has been termed Brihadaranakya... something very voluminous and compiled in the surroundings of jungles (forests). Sage Jnanavalakya was a Brahma jnani... an enlightened one! The teachings of Brihadaranakya Upanishad are full of jnana wisdom.

Sage Jnanavalakya not only reached the stage of enlightenment in his lifetime but his second wife... the dutiful Maitreyi also gained enlightenment in her lifetime. She is one of the two women who ever gained enlightenment in their lifetime in the entire history of mankind. The other sacred texts of Hinduism consist of Puranas, Itihasas, Agamas and Darshanas! There is no dearth of Hindu literature... so many important books and writings of Hinduism... the revered sacred texts are available that human beings confuse the lot. Summarizing all... for reaching God the jnana wisdom contained in Bhagavad Gita suffices. For assimilating the wisdom contained in the holy book Bhagavad Gita... one need not refer to Vedas, the Puranas, Itihasas, Agamas or Darshanas! Bhagavad Gita... the contents of sacred Bhagavad Gita ... the 700 shlokas verses are sufficient for mankind to reach the logical end (goal) of life... the 8.4 millionth manifestation when human beings gained enlightenment and salvation. As far as important books and sacred writings are concerned...

the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana suffice. Why? It is for the simple reason that in last about 150 years only two persons world over gained enlightenment... Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana! None other than these too spiritual stalwarts succeeded in their goal of life. As enumerated in sacred Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism... gaining enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) in one's lifetime is not that easy! By following the path undertaken by Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana... any human being can reach God Almighty. There is a horde of literature available related to both sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana! By following the gist of wisdom contained in books and writings related to sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana... I finally reached the goal of my life... realized God in 1993 at 37 years of age! Having reached the pinnacle of spiritual pursuit I can vouch with authority that books and writings related to Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana suffice.

Apart from the books and writings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana... one can try fathoming the depth of wisdom contained in 700 shlokas verses of Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism. In the present Kali Yuga (the Dark Age)... the words of wisdom contained in sacred Bhagavad Gita form the elixir of life... it is like bathing in pure nectar! By: Vijay Kumar "Atma Jnani" Vijay Kumar... The Man who Realized God in 1993 explains the concept of important books and writings of hinduism. For more on important books and writings of hinduism... sacred text of hinduism visit - hinduism holy book . Send Your Query - click here Ref. 090721 What are some Important Books and Writings on Hinduism Related Links... What are the holy books of Hinduism? | Reference.com What are the holy books of Hinduism? A: Quick Answer The most holy of the Hindu books is written in Sanskrit and is referred to as the Vedas.

Other holy scriptures in Hinduism are called the Upanisads, the Smrutis, the Puranas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Full Answer The scriptures of the Vedas are meant to guide Hindu believers in their daily lives. Some of the other holy works and books of Hinduism are stories and epic poems. The Vedas and these other works are further divided into two sections. The majority of the Vedas are considered the Shruti, which is translated to "that which is hard." The Smriti, or "that which is remembered," are traditional texts including stories such as the Ramayana. Hindu Religion, Hinduism, Culture, India, kids, Sanatan Dharma | Hinduism Facts | Facts about Hindu Religion Hindu Religion is a dominant Eastern religion ranking third in the world. What is Hinduism: In simple words, Hinduism is a way of life, which helps you to liberate from the cycle of birth and rebirth. In other words, Hinduism is a conglomeration of different doctrines and traditions mainly based on Vedas and modified from time to time by great saints without changing the basic teachings of the religion and the main aim of life i.e.

salvation (liberation from cycle of birth and rebirth). Some people define Hinduism as the way of life followed by people in India, which is only partially true. Though Hinduism was not a religion and was just a way of life followed by people of India and most of the Asia, it is now identified as a separate religion. There is no single book or a single doctrine, which can describe Hinduism. In order to understand Hinduism, you need to know all the streams of thoughts within Hinduism. Hinduism is a very vast religion and there are quite a handful number of books on which it is based. Lots of Hindu customs, traditions, and beliefs differ from region to region and climate conditions. There is a considerable difference between the Hinduism in scripture and Hinduism followed practically. In this article, we will describe Hinduism with minute details and everything that is related to Hinduism. Meaning of the words Hindu and Hinduism: The words Hindu and Hinduism are geographical terms and have no real meanings. The real name of Hinduism is “Sanatan Dharma (Eternal Religion).” The word Hindu refers to the people who live in the vicinity of river Sindhu in India.

Sindhu is a Sanskrit word for the river Indus. Therefore, the way of life they were following was termed as Hinduism i.e. the religion of the Hindus. The word Hindus is believed to be first used by Persians. There is no mention of word Hindu or Hinduism in any Hindu scriptures. India is also called as Hindustan as majority of people living there are Hindus. Other names by which Hinduism is known as: 1. Vedic religion. Different sects and thoughts in Hindu Religion: 1. Shaivism: Those who follow Shaivism, consider Lord Shiva as the Supreme Being. 2. Shaktism: Those who follow Shaktism, consider Goddess (Devi) as the Supreme Being. 3. Vaishnavism: Those who follow Vaishnavism, consider Lord Vishnu as the Supreme Being. 4. Smartism: Those who follow Smartism, believe in the authority of Vedas and they accept all the major Hindu deities. 5. Advaitism: Advaitism is the realization that existence is non-dual. 6. Mahanubhav Panth : This sect considers Lord Krishna as the Supreme Being. 7.

Modern Hinduism: It is a new unofficial sect which is followed by most of the Hindus worldwide. They do not bother about any sect. They worship all deities and think they are part of one God. They follow paganism too. Most of them are unaware of what Hindu scriptures actually say. 8. Aghori: Aghoris want to attain salvation by the methods, which normal people do not follow. Their path is very bizarre for common people. 9. Paganism: Lots of aborigines in India follow Paganism. 10. Vedic Hinduism: It is based on Vedas and Upanishadas and follow the teachings and rituals described in these books only. History of Hinduism: Hinduism is the oldest known religion on the earth. Its history dates back to 2500 B.C. but some people believe it is even older than that and can be dated back to 7000 B.C. or before that. Recent discovery of Dwaraka (a city from Mahabharata) corroborates this claim.

It is very difficult to illustrate history of Hinduism as there are no written records available but from the evidences found at the excavation sites in different parts of India, history of Hinduism can be dated back to 2500 B.C. Lots of work is still pending in this regard. Once upon a time, Hinduism was expanded to all over Asia. Traces of Hinduism are found in Russia, Japan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and other non-Hindu countries also. Most of these parts were 100% Hindu territories. Who is the founder of Hinduism? Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma is not founded by a single person as it was not founded as a religion. What is the concept of God in Hinduism? By scriptures, Hinduism is a monotheistic religion but in practice, it is a polytheistic religion where Hindus worship more than one deity. According to Vedas, there is only one God called Brahman and idol worship is not allowed. Hindus believe that other deities are manifestations of Brahman. Hence, worshiping the deities is equivalent to worshiping the Supreme Reality.

Bhagvadgita also advocates monotheism and gives emphasis on worshiping one God, but Bhagvadgita advocates worship of Lord Krishna who is the incarnation of Brahman, the Supreme Reality. Upanishadas advocate the symbol Aum as the only form of God. To fulfill the needs in physical world, Hindus worship different deities. If you want wisdom, then worship Lord Ganesha. If you want power, worship Lord Hanuman. If you want money, worship Goddess Laxmi. God is considered as Saguna as well as Nirguna i.e. personal as well as impersonal. Saguna means with some characteristics like human body and qualities and Nirguna means formless and without any qualities. Key Hindu scriptures: Vedas, Upanishadas, Bhagvadgita, Smritis, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Puranas are the key Hindu scriptures. Ramayana, and Mahabharata also have a great religious importance in Hinduism but cannot be considered as Hindu scriptures. There are four Vedas and 18 Puranas in total. There are four Upvedas and 18 Uppuranas also.

Rigveda is the most sacred and authoritative book of Hindu Religion. Rigveda is the oldest scripture of all. Following is a list of main Hindu scriptures: Four Vedas: 9. Saffron Flag Hindu Rituals: 16 Samskaras in a Hindu’s Life: 16 Samskaras are the 16 rituals which are performed at particular stages of life. Now a days so many rituals are not performed but some of them are still being followed. 1. Garbhadhana: First Samskara done immediately after the marriage. 2. Pumsavana: A ritual done in the third month of pregnancy. 3. Simanatonayana: A ritual done in the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy. 4. Jatakarman: A ritual done immediately after a male child is born. 5. Namakarana: Naming ceremony performed on the 12th day of the birth. 6. Nishkramana: A ritual done when child is first taken out of the house. 7. Annaprashana: When child starts to eat solid food in the sixth month. 8. Chudakarna: Cutting the child’s hair for the first time. 9.

Karnavedha: Ear piercing. 10. Vidyarambha: Starting the education of a child. 11. Upanayana: Thread ceremony 12. Praishartha: Learning of Vedas and Upanishadas. 13. Keshanta and Ritushuddhi: Keshanta is for boys and ritushuddhi is for girls. 14. Samavartana: Ceremony at the end of formal education. 15. Vivaha: Marriage ceremony. 16. Antyeshti or Antim Sanskar: A ritual done at the time of cremation. Major Hindu Beliefs: Reincarnation: Hindus believe that all the living beings have a soul (soul) inside them, which is a part of the Supreme Soul (Parmatma). The soul is immortal. It cannot be killed, burnt, or caught. If someone dies, it is the body which has perished, not the soul. Soul changes body as we change the clothes. It passes from one body to another body. Depending upon our deeds, we reincarnate on the earth as a living being. Buddhism and Jainism also believe in reincarnation.

Since ancient times, there are hundreds of examples of reincarnation. Examples of reincarnation are found in the people of all religions including Christianity and Islam, which do not trust in reincarnation. Karma: Karma is what we do in the day-to-day life. Karma is classified as Bad Karma (Paap) and Good Karma (Punya) i.e. bad deeds and good deeds. If you kill or hurt someone, it is a bad Karma and if you help someone, it is a good Karma. Karma plays an important role in reincarnation. Depending upon your Karma, you get reincarnated as a human being or as an animal. Your entire life depends upon the Karma you did in the past life and in the present life. If you have enough collection of good Karma, your life is easy. If you have a collection of bad Karma, then you are bound to suffer. Salvation: This cycle of reincarnation continues years after years and Yuga after Yuga. Therefore, our soul is subjected to continuous sufferings even if it changes bodies. There is only one way to end this cycle and that is through salvation.

As we know, our soul is part of the Supreme Soul, when it becomes one with that Supreme Soul, we attain salvation. To attain salvation, you need a human body and we get the human body after our soul travels through 8,400,000 species. Therefore, the ultimate aim of a human life should be to attain salvation. Hinduism shows us different paths, which would help us attain salvation. Dashavatar: “Dash” means Ten and “Avatar” means incarnation of a divine being into human form. Hindus believe that whenever Dharma weakens or the sins on the earth increase to the limit, Lord Vishnu incarnates on the earth and protects the Dharma. Following are the 10 incarnations of Vishnu known as Dashavataram: 1. Matsyavatar. Sacred-Texts: Hinduism Hinduism Vedas Upanishads Puranas Other Primary Texts Epics Mahabharata Ramayana Bhagavad Gita Vedanta Later texts Modern books The Vedas There are four Vedas, the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. The Vedas are the primary texts of Hinduism.

They also had a vast influence on Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Traditionally the text of the Vedas was coeval with the universe. Scholars have determined that the Rig Veda, the oldest of the four Vedas, was composed about 1500 B.C., and codified about 600 B.C. It is unknown when it was finally committed to writing, but this probably was at some point after 300 B.C. The Vedas contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India. Along with the Book of the Dead , the Enuma Elish , the I Ching , and the Avesta , they are among the most ancient religious texts still in existence. Besides their spiritual value, they also give a unique view of everyday life in India four thousand years ago. The Vedas are also the most ancient extensive texts in an Indo-European language, and as such are invaluable in the study of comparative linguistics. Rig Veda translated by Ralph Griffith [1896] A complete English translation of the Rig Veda.

Vedic Hymns, Part I (SBE 32) Hymns to the Maruts, Rudra, Vâyu and Vâta, tr. by F. Max Müller [1891] A masterpiece of linguistics and comparative mythology: translations and deep analysis of the Vedic Hymns to the Storm Gods. Hymns to Agni, tr. by Hermann Oldenberg [1897] The Vedic Hymns to Agni. An introduction to the Dramatis Personæ of the Rig Veda. Sama Veda The Sama-Veda translated by Ralph Griffith [1895] A collection of hymns used by the priests during the Soma sacrifice. Many of these duplicate in part or in whole hymns from the Rig Veda. This is a complete translation. Yajur Veda The Yajur Veda (Taittiriya Sanhita) translated by Arthur Berriedale Keith [1914] A complete translation of the Black Yajur Veda. The Yajur Veda is a detailed manual of the Vedic sacrificial rites. translated by Ralph T.H.

Griffith [1899] A complete translation of the White Yajur Veda. Atharva Veda The Atharva Veda also contains material from the Rig Veda, but of interest are the numerous incantations and metaphysical texts, which this anthology (part of the Sacred Books of the East series) collects and categorizes. The Atharva Veda was written down much later than the rest of the Vedas, about 200 B.C.; it may have been composed about 1000 B.C. translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith [1895-6] The unabridged Atharva Veda translation by Ralph Griffith. translated by Maurice Bloomfield [1897] (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 42) The Sacred Books of the East translation of the Atharva-veda. Selected hymns from the Atharva-veda. Upanishads The Upanishads are a continuation of the Vedic philosophy, and were written between 800 and 400 B.C.

They elaborate on how the soul (Atman) can be united with the ultimate truth (Brahman) through contemplation and mediation, as well as the doctrine of Karma-- the cumulative effects of a persons' actions. The Upanishads (Sacred Books of the East, vols. 1 and 15): by K. Narayanasvami Aiyar [1914] Thirty shorter Upanishads, principally dealing with Yogic thought and practice. Translations from the Katha, Prasna and Chhandogya Upanishads. Puranas The Puranas are post-Vedic texts which typically contain a complete narrative of the history of the Universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of the kings, heroes and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology and geography. There are 17 or 18 canonical Puranas, divided into three categories, each named after a deity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. There are also many other works termed Purana, known as 'Upapuranas.' The Vishnu Purana by H.H.

Wilson [1840] A primary text of the Vaishnava branch of Hinduism, and one of the canonical Puranas of the Vishnu category. Among the portions of interest are a cycle of legends of the boyhood deeds of Krishna and Rama. H.H. Wilson was one of the first Europeans to translate a Hindu sacred text from the original Sanskrit. His style and annotations are exceptional and very readable. translated by Ernest Wood and S.V. Subrahmanyam [1911] A Vishnu Purana with Dantesque descriptions of the afterlife, and details of Hindu funeral rites. translated by Swami Vijnanananda (Hari Prasanna Chatterji) [1921] One of the Upapuranas, devoted to the Devi (Goddess). translated by Swami Vijnanananda (Hari Prasanna Chatterji) [1921] The Song of the Goddess. An excerpt from the S'rimad Devî Bhâgawatam (above) The Prem Sagur (Prem Sagar) by Lallu Lal, translated by W.

Hollings [1848] English translation of a popular Hindi retelling of the Krishna cycle, based on the tenth book of the Bhagavata Purana. translated by Henry David Thoreau [1931] An excerpt from the Harivamsa, a Puranic text, translated by the American transcendentalist philosopher. Kundalini: The Mother of the Universe by Rishi Singh Gherwal [1930] Includes an English translation of the Lalita Sahasranama, the 'Thousand Names of the Goddess,' from the Brahmanda Purana. Other Primary Texts George Bühler, translator [1886] (Sacred Books of the East, vol. 25) Manu was the legendary first man, the Adam of the Hindus. This is a collection of laws attributed to Manu. The popular story of Ruru and Priyumvada from the Mahabharata.

Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita, usually considered part of the sixth book of the Mahabharata (dating from about 400 or 300 B.C.), is a central text of Hinduism, a philosphical dialog between the god Krishna and the warrior Arjuna. This is one of the most popular and accessible of all Hindu scriptures, required reading for anyone interested in Hinduism. The Gita discusses selflessness, duty, devotion, and meditation, integrating many different threads of Hindu philosophy. The Bhagavadgîtâ (SBE 8) with the Sanatsugâtîya and the Anugîtâ translated by Kâshinâth Trimbak Telang, (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 8) [1882] A scholarly prose translation of the Bhagavad Gita with two other similar, less well known, works from the Mahabharata. (Caurapañcāśikā) by Bilhana, tr. by Edward Powys Mathers [1919] A free verse translation of Bilhana, an 11th century Kashmiri poet. tr. by Sir Richard Burton.

[1870] Tales of a Vampire Scheherazade. tr. by F. Kingsbury and G.P. Phillips [1829] Popular Tamil Hindu devotional poetry by worshippers of the god Shiva. Songs of Kabîr Kabir, tr. by Rabindranath Tagore, Introduction by Evelyn Underhill; New York, The Macmillan Company; [1915] Kabir's mystical and devotional poetry has been found inspirational by people of many different faiths. Kabir tried to find common ground between Hindus and Muslims. by Rishi Singh Gherwal [1930] Excerpts from the shorter Yoga Vasishta Modern Books BBC - Religions - Hinduism: Scripture Religions Scripture Last updated 2009-08-25 Hindus believe that the Vedas texts were received by scholars direct from God and passed on to the next generations by word of mouth. On this page The Vedas These are the most ancient religious texts which define truth for Hindus. They got their present form between 1200-200 BCE and were introduced to India by the Aryans.

Hindus believe that the texts were received by scholars direct from God and passed on to the next generations by word of mouth. Vedic texts are sometimes called shruti, which means hearing. For hundreds, maybe even thousands of years, the texts were passed on orally. Contents of the Vedas The Vedas are made up of four compositions, and each veda in turn has four parts which are arranged chronologically. The Samhitas are the most ancient part of the Vedas, consisting of hymns of praise to God. The Brahmanas are rituals and prayers to guide the priests in their duties. The Aranyakas concern worship and meditation. The Upanishads consist of the mystical and philosophical teachings of Hinduism. The Samhitas Rig-Veda Samhita (c. 1200 BCE) is the oldest of the four vedas and consists of 1028 hymns praising the ancient gods. Yajur-Veda Samhita is used as a handbook by priests performing the vedic sacrifices. Sama-Veda Samhita consists of chants and tunes for singing at the sacrifices. Atharva-Veda Samhita (c.

900 BCE) preserves many traditions which pre-date the Aryan influence and consists of spells, charms and magical formulae. The Upanishads The Upanishads were so called because they were taught to those who sat down beside their teachers. (upa=near, ni=down, shad=sit). These texts developed from the Vedic tradition, but largely reshaped Hinduism by providing believers with philosophical knowledge. The major Upanishads were largely composed between 800-200 BCE and are partly prose, partly verse. Later Upanishads continued to be composed right down to the 16th century. Originally they were in oral form. The early Upanishads are concerned with understanding the sacrificial rites. Central to the Upanishads is the concept of brahman; the sacred power which informs reality. Whilst the priests (brahmins) had previously been the ones who, through ritual and sacrifice, had restricted access to the divine, now the knowledge of the universe was open to those of the high and middle castes willing to learn from a teacher.

Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita, or "Song of the Lord" is part of the sixth book of the Mahabharata, the world's longest poem. The Bhagavad Gita © Composed between 500 BCE and 100 CE, the Mahabharata is an account of the wars of the house of Bharata. It is one of the most popular Hindu texts and is known as a smriti text (the remembered tradition). This is considered by some to be of less importance than shruti (the heard text, such as the Vedas). It has, nevertheless, an important place within the Hindu tradition. The Bhagavad Gita takes the form of a dialogue between prince Arjuna and Krishna , his charioteer. Arjuna is a warrior, about to join his brothers in a war between two branches of a royal family which would involve killing many of his friends and relatives. He wants to withdraw from the battle but Krishna teaches him that he, Arjuna, must do his duty in accordance with his class and he argues that death does not destroy the soul.

Krishna points out that knowledge, work and devotion are all paths to salvation and that the central value in life is that of loyalty to God. The Ramayana Composed in the same period, the Ramayana is one of India's best known tales. It tells the story of Prince Rama who was sent into exile in the forest with his wife, Sita , and his brother, Lakshamana. Sita was abducted by the evil demon Ravana but ultimately rescued by Prince Rama with the help of the Monkey God, Hanuman. The story is written in 24,000 couplets. The symbolism of the story has been widely interpreted but basically is the story of good overcoming evil. Many people have said that it is a story about dharma or duty. BBC - Schools - Religion - Hinduism Religion Hinduism is the third largest world religion with about 900 million Hindus worldwide. In 2001 there were about 559,000 Hindus in the UK, most of whom came originally from Gujurat and Punjab in India. The religion dates back over 4,000 years.

Hinduism is made up of a variety of different religious beliefs and practices which originated near the river Indus in India. The name 'Hindu' comes from the word Indus. Beliefs Central to Hinduism is the belief in a supreme God Brahman, the universal soul, which is found in everything. Brahman is worshipped in a variety of forms, including Vishnu, Krishna , Rama , Shiva and several others. Hinduism does not have any founder. Hindus believe that life is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed by Karma. Hindus believe that every action has an effect and there is a cause for everything. This is called the law of Karma. Hindus believe that the soul passes through a cycle of lives and that the next life is dependent on how the previous life was lived. Holy Books The main Hindu scriptures are: the Vedas, a collection of hymns praising the Vedic gods. Veda means 'knowledge' the Ramayana, long epic poems about Rama and Sita the Mahabharata, which includes the Bhagavad Gita the Puranas, a collection of stories about the different incarnations and the lives of saints.

Worship Puja (worship) takes place in the Mandir (temple). Mandirs vary in size from small village shrines to large buildings, surrounded by walls. People can also visit the Mandir at any time to pray and participate in the bhajans (religious songs). Hindus also worship at home and often have a special room with a shrine to particular gods. Festivals: Hindus celebrate many holy days Diwali (the festival of lights) is the best known Navaratri (celebrating fertility and harvest), Raksha Bandhan (celebrating the bond between brother and sister) Janmashtami (Krishna's birthday) Hinduism - ReligionFacts Hinduism Bowker, John (ed.) Hinduism There are an estimated 1 billion Hindus worldwide, making Hinduism the third largest religion after Christianity and Islam. About 80 percent of India's population regard themselves as Hindus and 30 million more Hindus live outside of India. Hinduism has no founder or date of origin. The authors and dates of most Hindu sacred texts are unknown, although the oldest text (the Vedas ) are estimated to date from as early as 1500 BCE.

Scholars describe Hinduism as the product of religious development in India that spans nearly 4,000 years, making it perhaps the oldest surviving world religion. The broad term "Hinduism" encompasses a wide variety of traditions, which are closely related and share common themes but do not constitute a unified set of beliefs or practices. Hinduism is not a homogeneous, organized system. Many Hindus are devoted followers of Shiva or Vishnu, whom they regard as the only true God, while others look inward to the divine Self (atman). But most recognize the existence of Brahman, the unifying principle and Supreme Reality behind all that is. Most Hindus respect the authority of the Vedas (the oldest sacred texts) and the Brahmans (the priestly class), but some reject one of both of these authorities. Hindu religious life might take the form of devotion to God or gods, the duties of family life, or concentrated meditation.

Given all this diversity, it is important to take care when generalizing about "Hinduism" or "Hindu beliefs." The first sacred writings of Hinduism, which date to about 1500-1200 BCE, were primarily concerned with the ritual sacrifices associated with numerous gods who represented forces of nature. A more philosophical focus began to develop around 700 BCE, with the Upanishads and development of the Vedanta philosophy. Around 500 BCE, several new belief systems sprouted from Hinduism, most significantly Buddhism and Jainism. In the 20th century, Hinduism began to gain popularity in the West. Its different worldview and its tolerance for diversity in belief made it an attractive alternative to traditional Western religion. Although there are relatively few western converts to Hinduism specifically, Hindu thought has influenced the West indirectly by way of religious movements like Hare Krishna and New Age, and even more so through the incorporation of Indian beliefs and practices (such as the chakra system and yoga) into health and spirituality. Sources "Hinduism." Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions. "Hinduism." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Premium Service. 2004.

Huston Smith, The World's Religions. Linda Johnsen, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism, pp. 222-24. Hinduism-Sacred Texts Sacred Texts and Traditional Tales The Vedic Literature The Vedas The plural term Vedas has two related meanings in Hinduism. First, it refers to the four Veda texts: the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda and the Atharva Veda. Second, "Vedas" may also to the literature of the Vedic period which are based upon the four Vedas ; the term thus includes the Brahmanas , which are commentaries on each Veda, and the Upanishads, which are philosophical treatises based upon them. Sometimes the term may also include the Sutras, books which are rules and regulation codified according to different schools, even though these texts were written later in the period of Classical Hinduism. The Vedas proper were composed and then transmitted orally beginning around 1400 bce and probably recorded in writing about 1000. The first three Vedas are collections of material for sacrifices.

The Rig Veda contains 1028 hymns to the various gods (Indra, Agni , Soma, Rudra, etc.) which a priest recited loudly during a sacrifice to attract the god's attention to it. Many of the Rig Veda's verses are mantras , vocalizations that encapsulate and resound the nature of Brahman . The Yajur Veda contains mantras and other instructions for the priest(s) who actually perform the sacrifice. And the Sama Veda adapts mantras and verses from the Rig Veda to music which is then sung during the sacrifice. The Atharva Veda differs from the first three in that it does not relate to sacrifice and also contains spells and magic rites. The contents of the Vedas should make it clear that these are texts for the Brahmins . It is this varna who monopolized the Vedas and used them as the basis for education, requiring students to memorize large amounts of them. Until quick recently, it was forbidden for anyone not of the Twice-born castes even to hear the Vedas recited. The Vedas (including the Brahmanas and Upanishads ) constitute the sacred texts of Hinduism.

Hinduism considers these texts to be sruti, a word which means "heard." The Vedas were written down by rishis (holy men who are the mythical founders of Hinduism) who "heard" them during deep meditation. Thus, the texts come neither from gods nor men, but from the nature of the cosmos itself. Brahmanas The Brahmanas were composed between 1000 and 700 bce as commentaries on the four Vedas. As such, each Brahmana is attached to a specific Veda. As commentaries, they explicate matters needing explanation. For example, they discuss the meaning of mantras, specify how to perform certain sacrificial actions only briefly mentioned, and describe the impact the sacrifices have on the eternal world. In short, they function as a manual teaching the proper use of the material in the Veda to which it belongs. Upanishads The Upanishads are as different and diverse as the Vedas to which they belong. Composed between roughly 700 and 300 bce, delve into discussions of the deep inner meaning of their respective Vedas.

Thus, discussion can range from the meaning of the sacrificial altar as the center of the world to the priestly singer's role and the meter he sings in. If there is anything that unifies the Upanishads, it is their continual discussion of atman, Brahman and their relationship--a theme which becomes important in Classical Hinduism. For a passage translated from the Upanishads, go here . The Literature of Classical Hinduism This literature is revered but is not considered holy in the same way as the Vedas. They are termed smriti, i.e., "remembered." This means that they are traditional and originally passed on orally. They have a human rather than a divine origin. The Sutras Sutra has two meanings: a short pithy saying (like a proverb), and a collection of such sayings. The Sutras, as the latter, then are a collection of the former. In this way they organize many of the ideas of the Vedas into a series of rules and regulations than can be practiced. The Sutras came at the end of the Vedic literature and each one is usually derived from a Veda and its commentary literature.

One of the most famous sutras in the West is that rulebook of sexual pleasure, the Kama Sutra. The Epics The Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita The Mahabharata centers on the five Pandava brothers, who are sons of a king whose kingdom lies on the southern slopes of the Himalayas. In a fit of passion, the eldest brother gambles away the kingdom and his brothers in a dice game. The rest of the story is about the struggles and battles of the brothers to gain back their kingdom. The greatest warrior of the five brothers is Arjuna. On the night before a major battle, he has doubts about the rightness of killing the enemy, who are his cousins. At that point, his charioteer, Krishna (who is an avatar of Vishnu ), engages him in a discussion about performing one's duty ( dharma ), and about the paths to a better life, namely, devotion ( bhakti yoga ), action ( karma yoga ), and knowledge ( jnana yoga ), with an emphasis on Karma Yoga. This discussion is known as the Bhagavad Gita and it forms the basis of much popular Hinduism, including strengthening worship (bhakti) and devotion.

For some passages translated from the Bhagavad Gita, go here . The Ramayana The Ramayana, composed around 200 bce, is the story of Rama and his wife Sita . Rama is heir apparent to his father, the King of Ayodhya. He learns of the beautiful, royal Sita of a neighboring kingdom and wins her hand in marriage by performing the mighty feat of stringing Shiva's bow. Due to palace intrigue at home, however, Rama is sent into exile as a sadhu for 14 years. Sita, ever faithful, chooses to accompany him. They have many adventures, the greatest of which happens when Sita is kidnapped by the demon king Ravana, who disappears with her to his kingdom of Lanka (=Sri Lanka). Rama enlists the help of the monkeys, especially their champion Hanuman. Hanuman finds Sita, and enlisting the assistance of a monkey army, helps Rama regain Sita. During her captivity, Sita spurned all Ravana's advances, quoting the Vedas and lecturing him on dharma.

Rama is ultimately returned to his kingship in Ayodhya, but the people doubt Sita's faithfullness, since she was a captive for more than a year. In the end, she called upon the earth goddess to bear witness and she is swallowed up forever. Each of the main figures of the story represent an ideal type in Bhakti. Rama is the strong, active, hero, while Sita is the faithful, loyal, beautiful wife. Once it is realized that Rama is the incarnation of Vishnu and Sita is the incarnation of his consort Lakshmi, then Hanuman becomes the representation of an ideal follower, one who is totally devoted to the god. The Puranas If the Vedic literature was composed by and for the use of the Brahmin caste and thus remained an elite and esoteric literature, then the Puranas and their stories were designed for and used by the average Hindu. The eighteen major Puranas are collections of stories about the gods and their activities. The earliest were composed around 400 ce, but others, especially some minor ones, were created a millennium later. Thus the Puranas span the period from Classical Hinduism into Medieval Hinduism.

They tend to emphasize two points: bhakti (devotion to a god) and dharma (doing one's personal and social duty). The Puranas thus fall into three groups: those dealing with the stories of Brahma, those concerning Vishnu (and his avatars and consort(s)), and those about Shiva and the goddesses associated with him.

Question: What is the collective name of the four holy books of the Hindu religion?
Answer: THE VEDAS